PROFESSOR Paloma Mohamed-Martin, PhD, A.A., has been named Vice-Chancellor of the University of Guyana (UG), becoming the first female to hold the post in the 57-year-history of the University.

The University of Guyana’s Council, on Tuesday, made the announcement, noting that the year-long search for the institution’s 11th Vice-Chancellor has ended. “The Council warmly congratulates and wishes her a productive and successful tenure,” UG said.
The Council also extended its sincere appreciation to all applicants and short-listed candidates, and to the Search Committee and Teams of Evaluators for their months of diligent service.

Professor Mohamed-Martin brings a wealth of experience to the post.
She is a former student of the University of Guyana, Harvard University, and the University of the West Indies, St. Augustine. Her area of specialization is social and behavioral change, specifically how communicative and cultural aspects of life are implicated in change.

According to UG’s PACE (philanthropy, Alumni and Civic Engagement) forum, she returned to Guyana in 2007 from studies overseas to help re-establish the failing Centre for Communication Studies (CCS) at the University of Guyana, and, despite major challenges, she remained passionately committed to UG’s progress in becoming a top ranking University. In doing so, she has functioned in multiple roles: as a world class academic, researcher, beloved and inspirational teacher, as well as a dedicated and courageous administrator.

Serving as an administrator, Dr. Paloma had been Dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences, where she spearheaded the Faculty’s reformation process from 2012 to 2014.

According to PACE, prior to that, she became the first Director of the CCS, having created and run the Centre’s reform from 2007 to 2012 under the USAID-funded Phoenix project with Ohio University and UNESCO. Dr. Paloma Mohamed became a member of the University of Guyana’s Council in 2013 and also served as Chair of The University’s 50th Anniversary Committee.

Before her new appointment, she served as Deputy Vice Chancellor– PACE, a new role which focused on further expansion of UG’s role as the leading tertiary academic institution in Guyana. The role focused on fundraising at UG, while engaging with the university’s alumni bodies across the globe.

Professor Mohamed-Martin succeeds Professor Ivelaw Griffith who withdrew his request, in 2019, to renew his contract, which ended June 14, 2019.

Subsequently, a transitional management team, which included Professor Mohamed-Martin, has been running the university.

The team, which was duly approved by the University Council, was chaired by Deputy Vice-Chancellor for Academic Engagement, Professor Michael Scott; with Deputy Vice-Chancellor for Philanthropy, Alumni and Civic Engagement, Professor Paloma Mohamed, serving as the Deputy Chair; and Registrar, Dr Nigel Gravesande serving as Secretary to the Management Committee.

During the months leading to Professor Griffith’s exit from Turkeyen, a storm brew over the renewal of his contract. Both the University of Guyana Senior Staff Association (UGSSA) and the University of Guyana Workers Union (UGWU) had advocated for the removal of Professor Griffith, alleging that he was wasteful and poured money everywhere, except into developing the teaching space, under his leadership.

A call was also made for an overhaul of the institution’s senior administration.